Highlights of a meeting of the Executive of Toronto Conference
November 14, 2007
and meetings of the sub-Executive October 12 and November 30, 2007

The Executive of Toronto Conference met in a regular session on November 14; the sub-Executive met on two occasions for brief conference calls

1.  Conference/Presbytery restructuring:  Almost half of the November Executive meeting agenda was devoted to up-dates on the restructuring process.  Some of the highlights:
 
Steering Group: The steering group provides oversight for the entire project and will set up a task group to work with the current Presbyteries to determine the disposition of the assets held by the Presbyteries.  This action must be completed before the new Presbyteries are formed.

Boundaries Commission:  The Commission has prepared the first draft of the new Presbytery boundaries and has sent them to the current Presbyteries for comments. (The documents are available by contacting cpaniccia@torontoconference.ca; they will also be on the Conference’s website in the early part of 2008.)

Commission on the role and composition of the Executive:  The Commission asked for feedback on a couple of questions related to the role and composition of the Conference Executive.

Staffing Commission:  The Commission has determined that the central Conference office staff will consist of an executive secretary, an executive assistant, a financial administrator, and an IT/database specialist.  The Commission is working on job descriptions.

The Executive agreed to spend almost all of its January meeting in a combination of a retreat led by the Conference’s program staff, and will do further work on the restructuring.

3.  Other Executive actions:  The Executive a) approved the 2008 mission support grants as recommended by the mission support committee (full list available through lgray@torontoconference.ca); b) requested the General Council Executive to place a moratorium on 2009 cuts to mission support and overseas partner grants; c) agreed to refer the issue of funding for faith-based schools to the church in society and inter-church/inter-faith committees, and the issue of race-based schools to the church in society committee; d) approved the schedule for the visit of the moderator in the summer and fall of 2008; e) approved the boards of directors of a number of Incorporated Ministries; f) approved two persons to continue as Interim Ministers and granted sacramental privileges to two persons.

The Executive will meet again on January 14.

4.  Sub-Executive actions – October 12:  In a seven-minute conference call, the sub-Executive dealt with a variety of issues related to Incorporated Ministries, including giving approval to the amalgamation of the Toronto United Church Council and the Church Extension Council of Dufferin and Peel Presbytery.  Three persons were named as members of the Interview Board. 

5.  Sub-Executive meeting – November 30:  The sub-Executive discussed the disposition of the property at 875 Queen Street East, site of the former WoodGreen United Church.  The sub-Executive received a letter from the Red Door Shelter, current tenants, expressing an interest in purchasing the property.  Red Door requested four months to conduct a fund-raising feasibility study.  The sub-Executive approved the request, and will hear the results in March.
 

To receive excerpts from the minutes as noted above, please contact Linda Gray at lgray@torontoconference.ca.